Aletheia is an artist, writer, and spiritual director (you can read her bio as part of her post), but most of all I see her as one who brings forth in the true sense of the phrase. She generates excitement in a room and brings into existence the art that in already there inside us (we participants don't know that yet when we arrive!) Writing about my experience at one of her paint workshops I came to realize how deeply my memories of Junior High Art class informed how I viewed my own creativity for most of my adult life. I am grateful to Aletheia for gently guiding me to bring out for display my own fears and then let go of I can't... long enough to produce something that I like looking at! (Apparently others in my life do, too.)
Long using painting as her prayer, Aletheia recently published Awake my Soul: Contemplative Art Journal. The beautiful colored journal contains 52 paintings and brief meditations which allow the reader to bring out for display their fears, hopes, dreams, and prayers; and in the process to bear fruit, to yield to what is already there inside.
Kristin Ritzau is another who uses her talents and skills to bring forth the gifts of many women through essays, photography, painting, poems, and prayers. She and her Managing Editor Rebecca Stone provide a safe space for honesty and inspiration at A Beautiful Mess week after week. Some contributors are published authors and others are those writing publicly for the first time, but all bring out for us something from their hearts and souls.
Be blessed by Aletheia's paintings and brief meditation and Kristin's blog. As Aletheia says "May your heart be encouraged and your soul set free."
My Dream by Aletheia Schmidt | A Beautiful Mess by Kristin Ritzau
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